Stockholm
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Intriguing Stockholm is located between the Läke Mälaren and the coast of the Baltic Sea, its central parts consists 14 islands. It has about 910,000 residents.
City is first mentioned in written source in 1252, being allegedly founded by Birger Jarl.
The city rose to prominence for Baltic trade of as a member of the Hanseatic League.
Recreation
There is many flashy nightclubs along the Stureplan. Södermalm district has many comfy bars and nightclubs focusing on art and electronic or alternative music.
Gröna Lund amusement park in Djurgården district entertains specially children.
Shopping
Drottninggatan in Norrmalm has many luxury boutiques selling top brands along the whole way to the Sergels Torg.
Connected to Drottninggatan is the square of Hötorget. Here is a daily fresh food market outside as well as Hötorgshallen, an indoor food market.
Something to explore
Gamla stan
Oldest part of Stockholm, Gamla stan, is located on the Stadsholmen island. Its narrow streets, stores and cafés welcomes a visitor to stroll. Gamla stan’s center square Stortorget is famous for annual Christmas fare and on its one side lies the Stock Exchange Building, which houses the Nobel Museum and the Nobel Library commemorating Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel.
Here is also the Stockholm Cathedral, Riddarholm church and the Baroque Royal Palace (Kungliga slottet).
Kaknästornet
This seconc tallest structure of Sweden is the major hub of domestic television and radio broadcasts. Its height with antenna is 170 meters. It houses the information centre with a gift shop, indoor and outdoor observation decks as well as a restaurant, and it offers majestic vantage over the skyline of Stockholm.
”Under the bridges of Stockholm” tour
This extraordinary sightseeing tour presents Stockholm from the water. A visitor will see through the boat’s window e.g. the Gamla stan, and the islands Södermalm, Lilla and Stora Essingen. Route goes under fifteen bridges and pass through two locks connecting the Baltic Sea with Lake Mälaren. Tour departs from Strömkajen.
How to get around in Stockholm
Stockholm’s public transportation is organized quite well. Storstockholms Lokaltrafik operates traffic with metro (T-bana), commuter trains (Pendeltåg) and buses as well as few ferries. All is integrated in SL Access ticket system. Timetables and ticket prices are visible here.
How to get in Stockholm
Stockholm has the international Stockholm-Arlanda Airport located 40 km (25 mi) north of the city, in the Sigtuna municipality. List of its airlines is here, list of its destinations here.
Flygbussarna and Swebus runs buses to and from the City Terminal, just next to the Central Station.
The Arlanda Express Train departs from the lower level of each airport terminal every 15 minutes and arrives at Stockholm Central Station in 20 minutes.
Also Bromma and Skavsta airports serves Stockholm.
The main train station, Stockholms Central, serves both commuter and long-distance routes. It is located in lower Norrmalm, connected to T-Centralen, the central hub for the subway system, and Cityterminalen, the long-distance bus station. See domestic train timetables and ticket prices here.
Internationally, there are services from Copenhagen (Denmark) (5 h) and Oslo (Norway) (6 h) with several direct connections daily. A daily overnight train is available from the northern Norwegian city of Narvik (14 h).
Eurolines operates bus lines to Stockholm from various European cities. Swebus Express operates routes to Copenhagen, Oslo and Berlin.
Tallink operates ferries between Stockholm and Tallinn, Riga and Mariehamn. Silja Line and Viking Line operates ferries to/from Helsinki, Turku and Mariehamn.
Highways E4, E18 and E20 lead to Stockholm.
Top 5 in Stockholm
- Nobel Museum
- Gamla Stan
- Having a good time in Södermalm
- Gröna Lund amusement park
- Royal Palace
Text: Timo Hellman
Photos: Wikimedia Commons and Flickr with the CC and GNU licences / Oskar Bakke, Henrik Sendelbach, Mats Halldin, Zaphod, Holger.Ellgaard[/fusion_text]
